In relation to the Tennessean controversy over the publication of CCW holders in that state, SayUncle asks:

That seems to be the question of the day: Why publish this information in a story that is only marginally related to such data?

I think because these journalists actually do believe that CCW license holders are like sex offenders, and deserve to be tracked and outed. They think the public has a right to know who these dangerous and clearly paranoid individuals are. Who would want to carry a gun anyway? What is the reason for it? If these people have nothing to hide, they won’t mind the light of our pure and good journalistic truth shining into the dark corners of where these people lurk, waiting to shoot our children and eat them1.

And the sad part is, our reaction will just reinforce the preconceptions these people have in their minds about license holders. To me, it’s a game. They have preconceived notions about us being sneaky and paranoid, and our reaction to this provocation just proves it in their minds.

1 OK, OK, maybe they don’t think we’re actually out to eat their children, but I would venture to say that most people that move in these types of circles don’t think that much more highly of us than this.